PCX422e MULTICHANNEL SOUND CARD

Key Workflow: PCI Express multichannel sound card with on-board processing for on-air automation and permanent playback.

PCX422e is the reference multichannel sound card with on-board processing designed for operating in continuous 24/7/365 use-environments, such as radio automation. Its on-board processing guarantees all audio channels are always processed whatever the PC CPU load is, which gives absolute reliability and responsiveness to the audio system.

At a glance

PCX422e is a full featured multichannel model of the PCX series of sound cards. Thanks to its digital and analog inputs and outputs with broadcast grade specifications, its on-board processing and unrivaled reliability, PCX422e is the reference multichannel sound card used in the radio automation systems designed by Digigram Development Partners. A proprietary Software Development Kit (SDK) allows control of the card’s on-board functionalities. Available as part of the systems delivered by Digigram Development Partners, PCX422e can also be used as a linear PCM sound card with software applications based on standard driver interfaces.

• Multichannel sound card designed for broadcast radio
• On-board processing available through Proprietary Digigram SDK: MPEG audio, mixing of PCM and MPEG, cross-fades, real time time-scaling
• Proprietary Software Development Kit for controlling the on-board features
• Interoperable with most of the third party software applications for audio production under Windows, through DirectSound, Wasapi, and ASIO
• PCX cards are sold to Development partners: they design and sell the applications that include these cards

Key features

• Multichannel PCI Express sound card with on-board processing: MPEG audio, mixing of PCM and MPEG, cross-fades, real time time-scaling, 3-band parametric EQ, Maximizer
• Four balanced analog outputs, and two balanced analog input +24 dBu max level
• Two stereo AES/EBU outputs, and one stereo AES/EBU input with hardware sample rate converter
• Adjustable input and output analog and digital gains
• Synchronization inputs: AES11, Word Clock, black burst video reference
• Support for Windows 32-bit and 64-bit (Digigram proprietary SDK, WDM kernel streaming, DirectSound, Wasapi, ASIO)
• Breakout cables with XLR connectors

CONFIGURATION

• Bus/Format: PCI Express™ (PCIeÒ) x1 (x2, x4, x8, x16, x32 compatible)
• Size: 168 mm ´ 111 mm x 20 mm
• Power requirements (+3.3V/+5V / +12V / –12V): 2.5 A / 0 A / 0.1 A / 0
• Operating: temp / humidity (non-condensing): 0°C/+50°C • 5%/90%
• Storage: temp / humidity (non-condensing): -5°C/+70°C • 0%/95%

INPUTS

• Analog line inputs (mono): 4 balanced on PCX44x
• Maximum input level/ impedance: +24 dBu/ >10 kOhms
• AES/EBU** inputs:  2 with switchable hw sample rate converters,ratio from 1:8 to 7,5:1, up to 192 kHz
• Programmable input gain:
  – analog: from –94.5dB à +15.5 dBÄ
  – digital: from –110 dB à +18 dB
• Other inputs: AES/EBU Sync (up to 192 kHz), Word clock (up to 96 kHz), LTC, Video
• AES11 synchronization: Yes

OUTPUTS

• Analog line outputs (mono): 4 servo-balanced
• Maximum output level / impedance: +24 dBu / <100 Ohms
• Digital outputs: 2 stereo AES/EBU, up to 192 kHz
• Programmable output gain:
  – analog: from –86 dB to +24 dB
  – digital: from –110 dB to +18 dB
• Other output: Word clock (up to 96 kHz)

CONNECTORS

• Internal connectors: Inter-board Sync
• External connector: 68-pin SCSI MDR
• Digigram accessories available: Breakout cable

AUDIO SPECIFICATIONS

• Sampling frequencies available: Programmable from 32 to 192 kHz
• A/D and D/A converter resolution: 24 bits
• Supported audio formats: MPEG, PCM (8, 16, 24 bits), Float IEEE754

AUDIO PERFORMANCE

• Frequency response (record + play): 20 Hz–20 kHz: ±0.2 dB
• Channel phase difference: 20/20kHz: <0.2°/2°
• Dynamic range (A-weighted):
  – analog In: >104 dBA
  – analog Out: >104 dBA
• THD + noise 1 kHz at –1 dBfs:
  – analog In: <–97 dB
  – analog Out: <–94 dB
• THD + N 1 kHz AES/EBU In w/ SRC: <-130 dB
• Crosstalk (Analog in or out):
  – 1 kHz at 24 dBu: <–100 dB
  – 15 kHz at 24 dBu: <–85 dB

DEVELOPMENT ENVIRONMENTS

• Digigram management under Windows: np SDK
• Other management under Windows:  Wave (PCM & MPEG Laye II), WASAPI, ASIO, and DirectSound (all PCM)
• OS supported: from Windows 7 and Windows server 2003 (32-bit and 64-bit versions)
• Main on-board processing features (with np SDK): PCM play & rec, MPEG Layers I & II play & rec, Layer III play, Float IEEE754,direct monitoring, real-time mixing, level adjustment, panning, cross-fade, punch-in/punch-out, scrubbing, time-stretching, pitch-shifting, 3-band parametric equalizer, maximizer, format and frequency conversions